GGC’s First Date with Global Goods Partners

Co-founding Global Goods Partners in 2005, Joan Shifrin has seen first hand how access to a global market can literally change communities and lift them out of poverty. She is a a change maker. As a professional in the international development field, she has visited impoverished areas around the globe in order to support community-based groups, working to improve lives through income generation. 

Shifrin was able to take time away from saving to the world to join us on a First Date this week!

Global Goods Partners co-founder Joan Shifrin at Ikamva Labantu, an artisan collective in South Africa. Here, she works with artisans to create handmade children’s toys. Not only does Global Good to employ people, but they also focus on core services to marginalized communities such as providing primary health care, education and skills training

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stopTHINKshop Wrap Up

stopTHINKshop, co-curated by Given Goods, TYTHE Design and miLES, was located at 75 East 4th Street in the heart of the Lower East Side.

This past weekend, Given Goods, TYTHE Design and miLES co-curated a pop-up shop in the Lower East Side as part of New York City Design Week. stopTHINKshop was our way of bringing new-to-market products that were conscientiously designed to have a positive impact through the lens of sustainable, ethical or local production. For 48 hours, we showcased products at the confluence of high-quality design and social good—highlighting how these two categories can not only coexist, but thrive together. 

The shop featured everything from glassware to “seed bombs” to air plants.

Our shop featured a collection of socially innovative products from more than 20 incredible designers, companies and organizations. Air plants, zip tie neckties, antique lamps, handmade clutches and even driftwood from Hurricane Sandy were brought into our intimate space.

Those attending NYCxDesign events enjoyed stopTHINKshop as they were able to learn about the products, test them out and purchase them on the spot.

Hundreds of people visited the store, which was a departure from the usual NYCxDesign haunts. Customers interacted with the products, learned their stories and left with the knowledge that the consumption of socially responsible brands does not mean one needs to sacrifice style, quality or price.

Guest Curator: Valentine O’Connor

Meet Valentine O’Connor. The fourth Valentine in a long line of Valentines (the first, a great aunt, was born on Valentine’s Day), she has worked with luxury brands for almost ten years and has an eye for edited fashion and clean design. She currently spends her days as Director of Public Relations in AOL’s Lifestyle division and formerly worked in public relations for both Bentley and Mercedes Benz.

Valentine has executed high-end media events like Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC and breathtaking Bentley test drives through the mountains of Colorado. While her work has taken her all over the world, we asked Valentine to choose her favorite Given Goods items for when she takes a little bit of precious time off. As anticipated, her Given Goods picks are both classic and functional for time spent away. We loved them all!

Once a year, my beau and I will take a big vacation. The time off is precious, so it has to be great. We love taking photos of our adventures, relaxing and at the end of the day, we’ll have a cocktail before heading out. We pack speakers to plug in our iPods and dance while getting ready—it’s never a proper party without good tunes.

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